Written by Steve Herman on September 3, 2014

PORTLAND — The Oregon parole board has decided to release a 40-year-old man who was convicted at age 15 of raping and murdering a high school classmate in the Portland suburb of Beaverton.

The board announced its decision Tuesday in the case of Conrad Engweiler and set his release for October 16th.

An inmate at the Oregon State Correctional Institution in Salem, Engweiler has served more than 24 years for the aggravated murder of 16-year-old Erin Tonna Reynolds. Engweiler was originally sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30-years, but that came at a time when sentencing guidelines for juveniles were unclear.

His case has been repeatedly before the courts over the years since because he was initially sentenced under unclear guidelines. The state parole board reached their conclusion based on psychological evaluations by three state experts, who all determined Engweiler is no longer a threat to society.

His lawyer has argued that with good behavior time considered, he’s overdue for release. The state Supreme Court earlier told the board to start the prerelease process “with appropriate dispatch.”

At a hearing in May, Engweiler told the board that his prison time has taught him remorse, empathy and compassion.